Growth Hormone Profile:

Growth hormone (GH) is a peptide hormone that stimulates growth and cell reproduction in humans and other animals. It is a 191-amino acid, single chain polypeptide hormone which is synthesized, stored, and secreted by the somatotroph cells within the lateral wings of the anterior pituitary gland. Somatotrophin refers to the growth hormone produced naturally in animals, the term somatropin refers to growth hormone produced by recombinant DNA technology and is abbreviated "rhGH" in human. Growth Hormone is used to accelerate growth in Growth Hormone deficiencies, for improveing muscle strength and reducing body fat in Prader-Willi syndrome, for maintaining muscle mass in wasting due to AIDS, etc.

Somatropin is used for treating certain children or adults when the body does not produce enough growth hormone. It may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.Somatropin (rDNA origin - Nonrefrigerated) is a growth hormone that produces effects that are identical to the body's naturally occurring growth hormone. It affects the growth of bones, muscles, internal organs, and other tissues of the body.

Some medicines given by injection may sometimes be given at home to patients who do not need to be in the hospital. If you are using this medicine at home, your health care professional will teach you how to prepare and inject the medicine. You will have a chance to practice preparing and injecting it. Be certain that you understand exactly how the medicine is to be prepared and injected.

It is important to read the patient information and instructions for use, if provided with your medicine, each time your prescription is filled.

It is very important to follow any instructions from your doctor about the careful selection and rotation of injection sites on your body. This will help to prevent skin problems.

Put used needles and syringes in a puncture-resistant disposable container or dispose of them as directed by your health care professional. Do not reuse needles and syringes.

Growth Hormone Dosing:

The dose of these medicines will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of these medicines. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

For treatment of growth failure caused by growth hormone deficiency:

Adults - Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. At first, it is usually 0.005 milligram (mg) per kilogram (kg) (0.0023 mg per pound) of body weight injected under the skin once a day. Your doctor may then increase the dose if needed.

Children - Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. The usual total weekly dose is 0.16 to 0.3 mg per kg (0.073 to 0.136 mg per pound) of body weight. This is divided into smaller doses and usually is injected under the skin, but may be injected into a muscle as determined by your doctor.

For treatment of growth failure caused by kidney disease:

Children - Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. The usual total weekly dose is 0.35 mg per kg (0.16 mg per pound) of body weight. This is divided into smaller daily doses and is injected under the skin or into a muscle.

For treatment of growth failure caused by Turner's syndrome:

Children - Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. The usual total weekly dose is 0.375 mg per kg (0.17 mg per pound) of body weight. This is divided into smaller doses and is injected under the skin.

For treatment of growth failure caused by Prader-Willi syndrome:

Children - Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. The usual total weekly dose is 0.24 mg per kg (0.11 mg per pound) of body weight. This is divided into 6 or 7 smaller doses over the course of the week and is injected under the skin.

Adults weighing more than 121 pounds (55 kg) - 6 mg injected under the skin once a day at bedtime.

Adults weighing 99 to 121 pounds (45 to 55 kg) - 5 mg injected under the skin once a day at bedtime.

Adults weighing 77 to 98 pounds (35 to 44 kg) - 4 mg injected under the skin once a day at bedtime.

Adults weighing less than 77 pounds (35 kg) - Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. It is usually 0.1 mg per kg (0.045 mg per pound) of body weight injected under the skin once a day at bedtime.

Children - Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

Storage - To store Growth Hormone:

Keep out of the reach of children.

Store away from heat and direct light.

Store at temperature directed by your health care professional or the manufacturer.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed. Be sure that any discarded medicine is out of the reach of children.

Growth Hormone Side effects:

Leukemia has been reported in a few patients after treatment with growth hormone. However, it is not definitely known whether the leukemia was caused by the growth hormone. Leukemia has also been reported in patients whose bodies do not make enough growth hormone and who have not yet been treated with man-made growth hormone. However, discuss this possible effect with your doctor.

If growth hormone is given to children or adults with normal growth, who do not need growth hormone, serious unwanted effects may occur because levels in the body become too high. These effects include the development of diabetes; abnormal growth of bones and internal organs such as the heart, kidneys, and liver; atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries); and hypertension (high blood pressure).

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention. Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:

Abdominal pain or bloating; changes in vision; depression of skin at place of injection; headache; limp; nausea and vomiting; pain and swelling at place of injection; pain in hip or knee; skin rash or itching.

Other side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. However, check with your doctor if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome: